Makenzie Gidych  placed second at Provincials competing in level 5A for Rhythmic Gymnastics. (submitted photo/Natalie Jesney)

By Martin Martinson

Setting the bar

Gymnastics fun meet to feature provincial standouts

Jun 3, 2019 | 5:00 PM

The Battlefords Gymnastics Club will be hosting a fun meet June 9 from 1 to 6 p.m.

President of the club, Natalie Jesney, said the event is a fun way for the athletes to close out the gymnastics season with one final performance.

“[It gives] all of our athletes who want to compete and show their skills that they’ve learned during the whole year an opportunity to [do so] in front of their parents, friends and family,” she said.

The meet will feature performances from all age groups; from pre-competition to developmental, artistic and Junior Olympic (levels one to five).

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In addition to standard gymnastics, there will also be rhythmic gymnastics and gymnaestrada, a couple of acts combining gymnastics with dance.

Rhythmic gymnastics incorporates props such as ribbons and balls into their routines, while gymnaestrada is a dance featuring girls ages 12 to 18 that together perform a dazzling visual display.

“They do a whole dance together in matching outfits and it looks fantastic,” Jesney said. “It goes to a song and it is also like telling a story as well, it’s like a dance with gymnastics.”

More than 30 athletes are expected to perform at the event, including a number of gymnasts who took part in provincials last month in Saskatoon.

Six members of the local gymnastics club picked up hardware at the recent provincial meet.

(Pictured Left to right): Zara Carter; Rory Salzi; Isabelle Jesney. (submitted photo/Natalie Jesney)

Zara Carter placed first all around at provincials for the Junior Olympics 4 (2007’s and older). Carter placed first on both Bars, and Beam, while finishing second on floor and vault.

Rory Salzi finished second place all around, while taking home first on bars, second on vault, and third on floor.

Isabelle Jesney finished first on bars and eighth all around (Junior Olympics 4, 2008’s and younger).

(Pictured left to right): Katelyn Payne; and Finn Silver (Submitted photo/Natalie Jesney)

Katelyn Payne, left, placed first in level 5A at Provincials in Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Finn Silver, right, earned second place all around, first place on parallel bars, and third place on vault (MAG Junior Olympics 4, 2006’s-2009’s).

Gidych, as seen in the lead image, is the sixth.

Jesney said the athletes’ results at the provincial level were well deserved, and something that reflects well their hard work throughout the year.

“It’s very awesome for the club,” she said. “You can’t be anything but proud because those that went won and got up to the podium. That means they’ve been training well and our head coach has been doing an awesome job; the kids are working hard.”

She went on to add that finishing amongst the top gymnasts in Saskatchewan for their age should only help to inspire their peers in the local club as well.

“It gives [other kids in the group] the confidence and pride to say ‘hey, I could do that next year,’” Jesney said. “It lets them see, and gives them hope of what could be.”

There will be raffle prizes, silent auction and a 50-50 draw at the fun meet, while canteen will also be available.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1